The Government of Hungary condemns the latest ballistic missile test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the strongest possible terms.

The missile, which crashed in an area that is part of Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone, was fired just two days after the presidents of the Republic of Korea and the United States of America met in Washington to discuss the threat posed by North Korea.

This step has again shown that the DPRK is deliberately striving to increase tension and rejects cooperation with the international community. We call on North Korea to refrain from further provocation and to respect the applicable resolutions of the UN Security Council.

North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and irresponsible provocations represent one of the greatest dangers to global security today. We must increase diplomatic and economic pressure on the North Korean leadership to ensure that it gives up its plans, which are threatening peace in the region and the world. Hungary welcomes closer coordination between the responsible members of the international community in the interests of limiting North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes.

We support the recommencement of negotiations aimed at reinforcing the security and stability of the Korean peninsula and the region at the earliest opportunity. We expect North Korea to take tangible and determined steps to create a suitable environment for talks and in the interests of dismantling its nuclear and missile programmes. With regard to the future, Pyongyang must fully and permanently do away with its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes in a verifiable manner if it wishes to once again become a full member of the international community.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)